How to join
Admissions
From Pre-School at Durston, pupils emerge as creative, resilient and adventurous learners, ready for the years ahead.
1. Visit Us
At Durston House, we believe the best way to find out more about us is to visit us! Our Open Mornings provide families with the opportunity to meet staff members, current pupils, and ask any questions you may have.
Alternatively, private tours are available throughout the term on request. These are held during the School Day giving visitors the opportunity to see the classes in action, with children going about their daily lessons and activities. To arrange a visit please contact our Registrar, Mrs Caroline Ferns to book: cferns@durstonhouse.org / 020 8991 6532.
Open Days & Visits
2. Registration
For Entry at Pre-School (3 years of age)
Children can join the Pre-School in the term after they turn 3 years old, with a September, January or April entry point. There are a maximum of 40 places in the Pre-School. We recommend you register as early as possible to have the best chance of securing a place. In the term before your child intends to join the school, they will be invited into school for an informal assessment before a place will be offered. You can provisionally secure your place by paying the acceptance fee when you register, and this will be refunded in full if a place is not offered.
For Entry at Reception (4 years of age)
There are a maximum of 48 places in Reception. During the school year before your child intends to join the school, they will be invited into school for an informal assessment before a place will be offered. You can provisionally secure your place by paying the acceptance fee when you register, and this will be refunded in full if a place is not offered.
Although we assess pupils before entry at all stages, including Pre-School and Reception, it is important to note that at this young age we are looking for potential, rather than what has already been learnt, considering national age-related expectations.
How to apply
Complete the PDF Registration Form via the link below, and return to the Registrar, by email info@durstonhouse.org
Registration for a place is conditional on payment of the non-returnable Registration Fee (£150).
Siblings (of those already at the school) are given priority. However, admission is not automatic and there may be occasions where the School judges that a sibling is likely to thrive better in a different academic environment – Admissions Policy
Apply
3. Offers And Acceptance
Once your Registration is complete, you have the option to secure your child’s conditional place by paying our Acceptance Fee of £1,800. In the year before your child is due to start, they will be invited to an informal assessment with the Reception Team, after which offers of places will be confirmed, Parents will be contacted if, at this stage, we do not feel that Durston is the most suitable setting for your child. Further information is available in our Admissions Policy. If a place is not offered, the Acceptance fee will be returned in full.
4. Starting At Durston
We hold a ‘Welcome to Durston’ afternoon, to which new pupils are invited. This takes place in the Summer Term before entry. This will be an opportunity for your child to meet Teachers and Teaching Assistants. There will also be a meeting during this term where parents can meet the staff and ask any questions they may have.
This is a school where pupils are taught from their earliest experiences, that a generosity of spirit, mutual respect and fairness really matter.
1. Visit Us
At Durston House, we believe the best way to find out more about us is to visit us! Our Open Mornings provide families with the opportunity to meet staff members, current pupils, and ask any questions you may have.
Alternatively, private tours are available throughout the term on request. These are held during the School Day giving visitors the opportunity to see the classes in action, with children going about their daily lessons and activities. To arrange a visit please contact our Registrar, Mrs Caroline Ferns to book: cferns@durstonhouse.org / 020 8991 6532.
Open Days & Visits
2. Registration
Admission to Year 1-8 depends on availability of places and is based on a written assessment, interview and reference from the pupil’s current school. The purpose of both is to see if a prospective pupil is academically suited to the rigours of life at Durston House.
How to apply
Complete the PDF Registration Form via the link below, and return to the Registrar, by email info@durstonhouse.org
Registration for a place is conditional on payment of the non-returnable Registration Fee (£150).
Siblings (of those already at the school) are given priority. However, admission is not automatic and there may be occasions where the School judges that a sibling is likely to thrive better in a different academic environment – Admissions Policy
Apply
3. Offers and Acceptance
Subject to the outcome of the assessment and satisfactory reference, a place is offered. Prospective pupils with siblings already in the school are given priority. To accept the place, prospective parents complete the Acceptance Form and pay the Acceptance Fee of £1,800. Further information about the offer and acceptance of places can be found in the Admissions Policy.
4. Starting at Durston House
We hold a ‘New Parents and Pupil’ Meeting during the first week of July, offering pupils an opportunity to spend time in the classroom and for the parents to meet with the Assistant Head, Academic, Assistant Head, Pastoral, and the Head of Pre-Prep, to go through information and expectations for their child’s start.